Combination roost, litter carrier, and window



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. O. LEACH Dec. 31, 1929.

COMBINATION ROOST, LITTER CARRIER, AND WINDOW Filed Sept. 4

Dec. 31, 1929. R. o. LEACH 1,741,159

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I r l 2., 654 65 a(6069 59 64 27 H0650 Leach Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES ROSS O. LEACH, OF HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN COMBINATION ROOST, LITTER CARRIER, AND WINDOW Application filed September 4, 1926. Serial No. 133,549.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a combination roost, litter carrier and window and has for its object the provision of a device of this class which will 5 be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, and highly eficient in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this class which may be mounted in a hen house and used for a 10 roost support, so constructed and arranged that it may be'moved outwardly of the building when desired the litter having been deposited thereon being dumped by a dumping mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a roostv support of a swingably mounted member for catching litter and arranged for automatically dumping the same when desired.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this class which will be sanitary and easily and quickly fumigated and cleaned.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of'this class which may be mounted on a hen house quickly and easily.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this class slidably mounted on a supporting rail and adapted for movement out of the building in which used, when desired.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a device of this class of a hingedly mounted closure having opening in the building through which the supporting rails may be projected.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a roost support of this class whereby the roosts may be 4retained in spaced relation to the walls of the building in which used and which will be rat proof.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter de scribed and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention showing it in two positions of use.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan View of the invention taken on line 2-2 of Figure l.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on substantially line 55 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view taken on substantially line 4-4 of Fig. 1 with parts removed.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on substantially line 5-5'of Fig. 4.

As shown in the drawings the invention is adapted for mounting in an opening 7 of a hen house 8, the upper end of the opening being closed by a suitable cross beam 9. Posivtioned in this opening is a frame work comprising the side rail 10. Secured to the side rails 10 and 10l and projecting inwardly of the building are braces 12 and 12 and projecting outwardly from the building are braces 13 and 13', each of these braces being 70 secured to a horizontally extending brace 14, these braces being at opposite ends of the opening and connected by the cross rail 15. Extending parallel to the beam 9 is a supporting bar 16 to which is hingedly connected 75 a frame 17, in which is mounted a transparent closure 18 engaged at its lower edge when in closed position by the flange 19 which is mounted on the frame 20 in which is positioned a transparent closure 21, this frame 20 being hingedly connected to a cross beam 9 which, together with the side rails 10 and 10', form theframe positioned in the opening 7. Carried by the frame 17 is a channelshaped rail forming member 22 which is 85 adapted to swing into vertical position when the closure 18 is in closing position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and which is adapted to swing into horizontal position when the closure 18 is swung into horizontal position 90 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the end 23 of the rail 22 being diagonally cut to co-operate with the diagonal cut end 25 of the rail 24, which is also channel-shaped and which extends parallel to the rail 24. A similar 95 rail 22 is secured to the opposite end of the frame 20 for co-operating with the rail 24. These rails 24 and 24 are connected to and supported by the channel shaped crossv beam 26.

n a u -ed when desired.

As shown in Fig. 1 this channel-shaped cross beam 26 is connected to the braces 13 and 13. These braces may, if desired, also be supported at their' outer ends by suitable standards or supports or by suitable hangers depending from the roof of the hen house 8. In alignment with the rails 24 and 24 are channel shaped rails 27 and 27 which are secured to a cross beam 28 to which the braces 12 and 12 are fastened and to which the rail 14 is attached. The outer ends of the rails 27 and 27 are connected by hangers 30 to a suitable support 29. It is consequently seen that the rails 27 27, 22 and 22, 24 and 24, upon the swinging of the closure 18 to the open position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 form a continuous track. A carriage is provided having depending supporting arms 31 and 82, these supporting arms being at opposite sides of the carriage and at opposite ends and each doubled upon itself to provide the U-shaped portion 33 in which is pivotally mounted a roller 34 adapted to ride in the channel of the track, thus formed so that the carirage may be moved into the building as shown in Fig. 1 or positioned exteriorly of the building as shown in Fig. 1. These depending arms are connected by transversely extending bolts or rods 35 and 36. rlihe depending arms 31 and 32 at opposite sides of the carriage are also connected by the cross bars 37, projecting upwardly fromwhich are standards 38 which serve to support bars 39 and 40. Positioned between the uprights 38 is a foot board 41. In use the rails which are used for roosts are positioned on the supports 89 and 40 which are at opposite sides of the carriage, so that the chickens going to roostmay travel on the foot board 41 and from there attain access to the roosts. A ladder 43 is hingedly mounted between the supports 88, so that it may be folded downwardly to permit the chickens to mount thereon when contained within the hen house and folded upwardly into the position shown at the left hand side of the ligure in Fig. 1 when the device is moved outwardly from the hen house, so that access to the roosts 4() is provid- Swingably mounted on ,the rod 36 is a platform 44, a similar platform 44 being swingably mounted on the rod 45 which connects the arms 32 at opposite sides of the carriage, a rod 46 also serving to connect these arms 32. Extending transversely of the device beneath the foot board 41 is a rod or shaft 47 to which is connected a cord 48 which connects to the member 44 and to which is connected a cord 48 which connects to the member 44, so that upon a rotation of the shaft 47 the members 44 and 44 are moved into aligning horizontal position. This shaft l47 is provided with a squared end 49, upon which a suitable crank may be mounted for rotating the shaft 47. Mounted on this si aft 47 is a ratchet wheel 50, engaging with which is a pawl or dog 51, normally held in engagement with the ratchet wheel 50 by the spring 52, the pawl or dog 51 being connected to the rod 58. One end of the spring 52 engages the downwardly turned side wall 54 of the foot board 41.

The construction is such that after the cord has been wound on the shaft 47 and the members 44 and 44 moved into horizontal aligning position a withdrawal of the rod 58 will permit the members 44 Vand 44 to move by gravity into the position shown at the left of Fig. 1.

It is thus seen that after the carriage has been used as a roost for the night the same may be run. on the track outwardly of the building and the litter then dumped into a suitable conveyor if desired. rThe roosts are also moved with the carriage, so that the sunlight and air is permitted access to the.Y

roost for Ventilating purposes.

In the construction of this invention I desire to construct the carriage and trackage principally from metal, or other easily cleaned material, so that the device may always be maintained'in a clean state and condition.

It is believed evident that by moving the roost out of the building the hen house may be used as a scratch ground on account of the absence of all litter on the floor. The removal of the roost will also afford additional space in the hen house, so that it may be used for any purposes desired.

The structure, as shown, is one which permits a greater amount of light in the hen house than is ordinary in that the opening 7 is closed with a transparent closure.

It will be noted that the carriage is positioned away from the walls of the building considerably, so that the shielding from cold drafts etc., of the fowl roosting on the roost is considerably increasedas the fowl cannot approach closely to the walls or the roof of the building. This spacing also makes the roost rat proof so that rats or other rodents cannot reach the fowl while they are roosting.

In order to retain the rails 22 and 22 in their horizontal position I have provided catches 57 and 58, each of which is pivotally mounted on the cross bar 28. The catch 57 is connected by the rod 59 t-o a disc 60 which is rotatably mounted on the bolt 61 and projecting outwardly from which is an arm 62. A rod 63 serves to connect the catch 58 to the disc 60, so that upon a rocking of the disc 60, the catches 57 and 58 will disengage from the angle irons'64 and 65, which are mounted on the cross beam 28 which connects the tracks 22 and 22. A spring 69 serves to normally retain the catches 57 and 58 in operative position, so that upon a swinging of the closure 18'to horizontal position, this closure, together with the tracks 22 and 22 will be fastened in horizontal position.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of my invention, I .do not `wish to limit myself to the precise form of structure shown, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

I-Iaving thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device of the class described comprising: a pair of spaced parallel supporting rails mounted in a building; a pair of spaced parallel supporting rails in alignment with said first pair of rails, mounted exterior of said building; a carriage slidably mounted on said rails; a swingable window mounted in said building; rails carried by said window and adapted upon swinging of said window, to swing into horizontal position, for forming a continuance of said rails to permit the movement of said carriage to the interior and exterior of said building at will.

2. A device of the class described comprising: a pair of parallel spaced supporting rails mounted in a building; a pair of spaced parallel supporting rails in alignment with n said first mentioned supporting rails mounted exterior of said building; a swingable window mounted in said'building; a pair of spaced rails carried by said Window and adapted, upon swinging of said window, to swing into horizontal position, for forming a continuance of said rails; anda carriage slidably mounted on said rails movable to the interior and exterior of said building at will.

8. A device of the class described, comprising: a pair of spaced parallel supporting rails mounted in a building; a pair of spaced parallel supporting rails in alignment with said lirst mentioned pair of rails and mounted exterior of said building; a carriage slidably mounted on said rails a closure mounted on said building; rails carried by said closure, said closure being movable into a position for bringing the rails mounted thereon into alignment .with the rails interior and exterior of Said building to form a continuance of the same and permit the movement of said carriage to the interior and exterior of said building at will.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing. ROSS O. LEACH. 

